South Carolina Online Driver Education and South Carolina Licensing Procedures
Congratulations on starting the process of applying for your South Carolina Learner’s Permit or first South Carolina driver’s license. South Carolina has a Graduated Driver License Program for South Carolina teen drivers, and there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that applying for your first South Carolina driver’s license goes as smoothly as possible. So let’s get started.
The South Carolina Beginner Permit or South Carolina Learner’s Permit
When you turn 15, you can finally apply for a South Carolina Beginner Permit, otherwise known as a South Carolina Learner’s Permit. In order to apply, you need:
- Valid identification (an original birth certificate)
- Social Security Card
- Proof of South Carolina residency
- Proof of Insurance
Once you’re ready, head on down to your local South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with your parent or guardian and submit your application. Then, you’ll have to take a vision test, as well as a written exam. If you survive, then congratulations. You’ve just earned your South Carolina Beginner Permit, which is valid for 1 year. Remember, you must practice driving with your parent, guardian, driving instructor, or licensed driver who is at least 21, has held a valid driver license for 1 year, and is sitting beside you. Of course, all passengers must wear seatbelts, and be sure to carry your South Carolina Beginner Permit with you at all times.
Once you’ve held your South Carolina Beginner Permit for 180 days and have met a few more requirements, you’ll be ready for the next step in the South Carolina Graduated License Program, the South Carolina Conditional License.
The South Carolina Junior Driver License and South Carolina Full Driver License
You can apply for your South Carolina Conditional License once you’ve held your South Carolina Beginner Permit for 180 days and have met a few requirements:
- Hold your South Carolina Beginner’s Permit for at least 180 days in good standing
- Complete a South Carolina approved driver’s education course
- Complete 40 hours of driving practice with a supervising driver
- At least 10 hours must be at night
- Provide proof of satisfactory school attendance
- Fill out form PDLA (which certifies the above requirements)
If you’ve completed these requirements, then make an appointment and head on down to your local South Carolina DMV. Be sure to bring your identification documents, including your South Carolina Beginner Permit. Then you’ll have to take the dreaded South Carolina road test! If you pass, then congratulations. You’ve just earned your South Carolina Conditional License. However you’ll still have to drive with a few restrictions for the time being.
However, if you’re 16, you can also apply for a South Carolina Special Restricted License. You’ll need to head on down to your local South Carolina DMV with the following:
- Certification of school attendance
- Certification of South Carolina approved driver education course
- Certification of Driver Practice
When you turn 17, or have had your South Carolina Beginner’s Permit for 180 days without South Carolina traffic offenses or at-fault accidents, you can apply for your South Carolina Regular Driver’s License.
South Carolina Teen Driver License Restrictions and Penalties
Although with supervision, you can still drive at any time, there are a few restrictions concerning your South Carolina Conditional License that you must follow:
- No driving between 6PM (or 8PM during daylight savings time) until midnight unless you have a licensed driver who is at least 21 accompanying you
- No driving from midnight to 6AM without your parent/guardian
- An exception to this driving curfew is if you’re driving to/from work, a volunteer fire department, rescue squad, or emergency medical service activity
- No more than two passengers under 21 unless accompanied by a licensed adult
- You can, however, transport family members under 21 to/from school
Be aware that if you’re under 17 and earn 6 or more points on your South Carolina driving record, your South Carolina Conditional License will be suspended for 6 months.
Once you turn 17 and have held your South Carolina Conditional License in good standing for 1 year, you can finally drive unrestricted. Freedom!
South Carolina Auto Insurance Financial Responsibility Laws
Once you receive your South Carolina Limited Provisional Driver license, you’re ready to drive--or are you? Not quite yet, because South Carolina drivers are required by law to be covered by liability insurance. The minimum liability insurance coverage is:
- $25,000 bodily injury for one person
- $50,000 bodily injury two or more people
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
If you are in an accident and found to be driving without South Carolina mandatory liability insurance, your South Carolina license could be suspended.
South Carolina Drunk Driving, Cell Phone, and Text Messaging Laws
As a South Carolina teen driver, it’s important for you to learn the South Carolina drunk driving, cell phone, and text messaging laws. Like most state, South Carolina has a Zero Tolerance Law for underage drinking, and if you are convicted of a South Carolina DUI or South Carolina DWI, you face addition penalties to those listed below.
Upon your first conviction of a South Carolina DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of .10, you’ll face the following penalties:
- Jail sentence from 48 hours to 30 days maximum
- Community Service 48 hours
- Fine of $400
- License Suspension 6 months
And of course, further South Carolina DWI and DUI convictions will result in increased jail time, community service, fines, and South Carolina license suspension or even South Carolina license revocation.
Currently, South Carolina teen drivers are not prohibited from using cell phones while driving.
South Carolina Online Driver Education
South Carolina teen drivers are required to take a South Carolina approved driver education course. You can find more information about approved South Carolina online driver education on the South Carolina DMV website.
